Report: men’s 800m final – Sopot 2014

The men’s 800m final was one of the most exciting events in
the arena this weekend. With two Polish athletes going for the gold, the roar
from the crowd was infernal.

Thijmen Kupers started at the front, passing 200m in 24.96
before the Dutchman brought the group to 400m in 53.29.

The movement behind him began after 400m when South Africa’s
Andre Olivier looked to take the lead. The two Poles had other ideas with Marcin
Lewandowski taking the lead on the third lap, passing 600m in 1:20.57 and
compatriot Adam Kszczot joining him at the start of the last lap. Kszczot
passed his countryman in the back-straight with Mohammed Aman, the world
leading athlete in this event, taking the lead before the final curve.

The 20-year-old, also 2013 World champion from Moscow,
retained his world indoor title from Istanbul in style finishing in 1:46.40,
but to the absolute delight for the crowd, Adam Kszczot challenged him almost
to the finish line to take the silver medal clocking 1:46.76 and Marcin
Lewandowski crossed the line in third, just ahead of Briton Andrew Osagie.

But moments later, it was revealed that Lewandowski had been
disqualified for a lane violation, moving Osagie into the bronze medal
position, replicating his finish from 2012.

This was a second medal for Kszczot in this competition, as he
was third in 2010. Olivier was fifth in 1:47.31 and the early leader Kupers
finished in sixth (1:47.74).